Chapter 272. Revolution (4)

The roaring Red Dragon’s eyes widened, blazing like twin suns. “Lee Eun-Ho!”

Within those blood-red, glassy eyes, Eun-Ho saw his own reflection. Then, his blue Sword Force thrust forward by sheer will.

However, the dragon wasn’t looking at him.

An explosion of fury burst forth, crashing over his entire being.

[The Heavenly Dragon’s Wrath engulfs your soul.]

[You have been paralyzed.]

Even so, Eun-Ho kept pushing forward.

Craaaack—!

His vision burned, forcing his eyes shut. His clothes, his skin, and his hair all melted away. It felt as though every joint in his fingers was splitting apart at the cellular level.

Still, he refused to let go. He gripped the sword with both hands, pouring his entire weight into it.

Just a little more!

Eun-Ho believed that his end would also be the enemy’s end.

Clinging to that belief, Eun-Ho refused to release his burning grip. By now, he had been scorched to the point where bone was nearly visible.

[0.1%]

At that moment, a faint trace of life returned.

[Revive has been activated!]

He was determined to squeeze out even the last remaining drop. Trusting in the sliver of life flickering at his feet, he endured.

Woong—!

Wooong—!

Wooooong—!

The blade trembled, flashing in five-colored light.

[The sword that shattered the sky senses its master’s crisis.]

Yeah, so hold on, Eun-Ho thought.

Even if it felt like it would break, it had to endure. As if answering Eun-Ho’s silent plea, the Sky-Shattering Blade responded.

[A vessel forged by melting metal with blood and hardening it through time answers in place of its fragile master.]

[An extraordinary title has been released.]

The overwhelming title that had once awakened the blade, Heaven Shatterer,was unleashed once more.

[Shattering Blade has been activated.]

Crack—Crackle!

Eun-Ho could feel the vibration surging outward from deep within the sword, like ripples spreading through its core. Cracks began to form across the pitch-black blade. He didn’t even have time to catch his breath.

[The Flame Sky-Shattering Blade has been destroyed.]

Boooom—!

The blade shattered into fragments. Each piece burst apart, extending its own arc of sword energy.

“It was all your—” the dragon began, but its words were cut off.

It felt like a chain of explosions had erupted inside his skull.

Kabooom—!

His hearing vanished, the light disappeared, and the sword slipped from his grasp.

[Congratulations!]

[You have achieved the impossible feat, God Slayer.]

[You have acquired the title, God Slayer.]

All that remained were dozens of messages slamming into his mind.

[An indescribable aura surges through you!]

[Your Stamina, Strength, and Agility have drastically increased by 50.]

[Through a miraculous strategy that made the impossible possible, your rank has increased!]

[Your Intelligence and Wisdom have drastically increased by 50.]

[You have withstood the overwhelming presence of a superior being!]

[Your Endurance has drastically increased by 50.]

[You have produced results that defy the Greater Cause!]

[Your Resistance has drastically increased by 9,999.]

...

Eun-Ho’s eyes closed and his vision slowly faded.

[The possession of the Undyin...]

The long battle had finally come to an end.

***

The Red Dragon’s explosion swallowed the sky that had once been filled with birds.

“Commander!” one of the Skeleton Knights shouted.

“Eun-H—aaaargh!”

The intense heat froze the Razor-Beaked Birds mid-flight, their wings spread wide as they stiffened. Black shapes rained down from the sky like a dark storm.

“Kek!”

That was when Ji-Eun, whose neck had snapped slightly, forced her eyes open.

“Unnie! Are you okay?!”

She trembled violently from the strain of her distorted limbs. Even so, her shaking gaze searched for only one person. She was looking for the man who charged at his enemies with eyes colder than ice, yet spoke with utmost warmth when urging others to move forward with him.

It didn’t take long for her to find him, the face she had seen countless times, yet never grew tired of.

Sssss—

Eun-Ho was falling, seemingly unconscious. He barely clung to the bird’s saddle.

Ji-Eun tried to use her skill, but her voice came out as nothing more than a rasp. “Psycho...”

Please, please, please, please, please!

Still, she begged and prayed, forcing the words out. Her throat tore and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

She nearly coughed it up, but she kept shouting, “Psycho... kinesis!”

“Unnie!”

At that moment, Eun-Ho’s fall stopped. The birds that had been plummeting froze midair all at once, as if cushioned by something invisible.

However, there was one exception. The Ancient Dragon that was untouched by Ji-Eun’s reach did not stop.

Thuuuuud—!

It crashed into the ground, splitting the earth apart. Then, a massive cloud of dust exploded outward.

Just a little more!

Ji-Eun endured. Bloody tears streamed down her face, but she refused to close her eyes. Even as the storm raged, her focus never wavered. Only Eun-Ho and the comrades suspended in the sky filled her vision.

She held on until the shock from the ground fully subsided.

Ssssh—

The dust, mixed with unidentifiable fragments, slowly settled like fog.

“Ji-Eun! That’s enough now!”

“Unnie! You’re really going to kill yourself like this!”

As those who had regained their senses rushed forward and grabbed her hands, the last of the black rain fell softly to the ground.

Thud—

With her torn throat, Ji-Eun groaned, “Eun...”

Sol-Ah stepped in front of Ji-Eun and gently stopped her. “It’s my turn now,”

Ji-Eun collapsed where she stood, and Sol-Ah positioned herself beside her.

[Mass Heal has been activated!]

Green particles spread outward from Sol-Ah, forming a large, glowing circle. It was enough to handle most emergency injuries. The Razor-Beaked Birds began to recover, and even the Skeletons’ wounds slowly closed. However, Eun-Ho was different.

“Wait! What’s wrong with him?! He’s bleeding even more!”

“H-hey, young lady! Is he alright?!” the security asked anxiously.

Dark, clotted blood poured from his mouth as if he were vomiting everything inside him.

He’s not healing?! Sol-Ah thought.

A haze flickered within Eun-Ho’s eyes. It wasn’t just burst blood vessels, but something far more sinister. It was trying to take control of him, just like an eerie mist that actively rejected Sol-Ah’s healing power.

This isn’t just internal injury. Is it because he had taken the full force of the dragon’s explosion?

Sol-Ah couldn’t tell.

Well, there’s only one way then.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as her eyes steeled with resolve, her hands moving without pause. After a brief moment of decision, Sol-Ah said, “Blood extraction.”

A pale syringe slowly formed above her open palm.

“Yoon Sol-Ah! Don’t tell me you’re—” someone shouted.

Plop!

Without hesitation, she drove the needle into her own arm.

[Please set the extraction amount!]

“Maximum,” Sol-Ah answered.

The syringe expanded to the size of her face, and the thin needle thickened to the width of a finger.

“Hey! What are you trying to do?!” Yeo-Jin cried, turning pale.

However, it was not as pale as Sol-Ah’s.

[Extracting blood.]

Dark red blood drained from her thin arm, filling the massive syringe. Sol-Ah’s face rapidly lost all color, turning pale then deathly white. She shrank like a corpse.

“That’s the skill he told you never to use!” Yeo-Jin shouted. “You’re going to die if you keep this up!”

Serum Healing was an insane skill that let her draw her own blood to heal another.

“Serum Healing?” Eun-Ho had once asked.

“Yes. It’s mainly used to inject antibodies when someone’s infected, but it also restores a lot of Stamina.”

She had learned it at the training center Eun-Ho had sent her to.

“And if you draw your blood? What happens to you?” he had pressed.

“My maximum Stamina decreases,” she had answered.

“Didn’t you see what Yeon Bo-Ra went through? Don’t even think about using that,” he had warned.

Eun-Ho had warned her time and again never to use it or even mention it to others. However, stubborn high school girls could rival four-year-olds in sheer obstinance.

“There’s no other way,” Sol-Ah said quietly.

Inside the enormous syringe, the collected blood began to spin, and centrifugal force built in her palm.

“Serum... Extraction.”

Fwoosh—!

[Serum Healing has been activated!]

As strength steadily drained from Sol-Ah, the syringe spun faster and faster. Then, the dark red liquid inside began to separate into layers.

[Using the serum of Healer Yoon Sol-Ah, your status effect has been cured.]

A faint golden droplet, tinged with soft orange, seeped into Eun-Ho’s heart.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

His heart began to beat.

***

“I’ve almost finished cleaning up. I’ll take over from here,” Bo-Ra said.

“Thank you, Bo-Ra. I’ll handle the rest,” Ji-Eun replied.

“Make sure you get some rest too, Unnie. I’ll stand watch today.”

The voices sounded familiar to Eun-Ho, like a dream or reality blurred into one.

“Huh? Unnie! Wait a second!”

Eun-Ho forced his heavy eyelids open. Through the blinding light, he saw a head of violet hair.

“Oppa?” Bo-Ra called.

“Yeon Bo—ugh!”

There was a throbbing pain in his head. Eun-Ho clutched it with both hands, eyes barely open.

“Eun-Ho! Are you awake?!” Ji-Eun asked urgently.

“W-where am I?” he muttered.

The ceiling above him was unfamiliar.

There were no earthen walls of the desert fortress nor dim lighting. Instead, there was a clean white ceiling and fluorescent lights. Also, he was lying on a bed, dressed in what appeared like a patient gown.

“You’re in the company infirmary,” Ji-Eun explained.

He had heard that a hospital-like facility existed within the company. However, it was meant only for the chairman and top executives. He had never seen it, let alone used it.

“The strike is over. So you don’t have to worry anymore, Eun-Ho,” Ji-Eun said, her voice trembling slightly as if holding back tears.

“It’s over?” he asked.

Bo-Ra added with a bright grin.

“We took over the company!”

He understood exactly what that meant. They had avenged the enemy who destroyed their home. Those who once crawled at the very bottom of the hierarchy had finally won.

“The dragon... what happened to it?” Eun-Ho asked.

“It died instantly,” Ji-Eun replied. “Its body shattered the moment it hit the ground, then turned to dust.”

Eun-Ho looked stunned.

“It’s really over now, Eun-Ho,” she added softly.

Finally.

A surge of emotion welled up inside him. Relief spread through him, warming him from within. Only then did he realize how tense he had been. His limbs slowly started to relax. While he sat there in thought, Ji-Eun and Bo-Ra chattered excitedly.

“Things are still hectic with cleanup, but it’ll all be wrapped up soon,” Ji-Eun said.

“Everyone wanted to stay by your side, Oppa,” Bo-Ra added with a laugh. “But Unnie kicked them out and told them to get back to work. She said, ‘Do you want him to wake up and see the company in shambles?’”

There was a lot he wanted to ask, but understanding the situation came first.

“Good job,” he said.

“Oh, right!” Bo-Ra added. “System access is back too. Check the bulletin board! It’s gone crazy.”

Just as Bo-Ra said, the bulletin board was in complete chaos. Posts and comments flooded in by the second, but most of them carried the same message.

───────────────

Labor Union Strike-Related Discussion (Day 5)

As everyone knows, the labor union completely crushed the chairman and the secretariat. Their firepower was insane but putting that aside for now. The chairman’s faction has basically been wiped out and only small fry remain.

1. Operations Bureau – Strike ended.

The damage was massive, so the director is handling the aftermath. They’ll maintain normal operations as much as possible until the Labor Union Leader wakes up.

2. Investigation Bureau – Strike ended. Minimal damage.

Currently assisting other bureaus under the direction of the Abnormal Investigation Management Team.

3. Management Bureau – Director and executives missing. Operations paralyzed.

This is the biggest issue. It’ll probably stay that way until the union leader regains consciousness.

...

───────────────

└ What does that mean for us?

└ Did you join the union?

└ Nope...

└ Congrats on getting purged.

└ Jkjk. Join now while you still can.

There was awe at the revolution the labor union had sparked and anxiety over the rapidly changing situation.

└ I bet restructuring will start immediately.

└ Someone go ask the Labor-Management Cooperation Team.

└ They said they’ll hold an inauguration ceremony once the union leader wakes up.

└ Yeah, they probably need that before they sort out personnel changes.

They were nothing more than anonymous lines of text, and yet Eun-Ho could sense the same job insecurity he had always lived with was now shared by all of them.

“The Hall of Fame is going crazy too,” Bo-Ra said as he scrolled.

“Yeah, I can imagine,” he replied.

After all, twenty new videos had been added.

[You have completed the hidden trial, Hall of Fame Induction.]

[Twenty Points and twenty thousand Welfare Points have been granted as trial rewards.]

[Registered Content: 24 items]

Twenty points was an enormous reward, but that could wait as there was something more pressing.

“Am I the one holding an inauguration ceremony?” Eun-Ho asked.

Why is everyone on the bulletin board waiting for my inauguration?

Frowning slightly, Eun-Ho looked up as Bo-Ra grinned. “Of course you are! Everyone’s already preparing for it!”

“Preparing for what exactly? Where am I being crowned?”

“Isn’t there only one option?

She exchanged a glance with Ji-Eun before answering.

“The chairman.”

“What?”

The position that ruled the company, the chairman’s seat, was vacant. Apparently, it had already been decided that he would take it.

“Oppa, by the way, when did you win over the directors?” Bo-Ra asked.

“The directors?” he repeated.

“You didn’t know? They’ve been going all out to help.”

It was unprecedented, something that had never happened since the company’s founding. There were countless procedures to sort through, but the surviving directors were stepping in to handle it.

“The date hasn’t been set yet,” Ji-Eun said. “So we’ll probably proceed once you’ve recovered, Eun-Ho.”

If he was going to lead a new company into a new era, it would have to be made clear. There was an overwhelming amount of work ahead, including executives to appoint and policies to establish.

“And for the ceremony, maybe you could push your bangs back—ah, no, I mean—” Ji-Eun started nervously.

“Understood. If that’s what you’d like,” he replied calmly.

“Ah!” she gasped.

However, before any of that there was something he needed to confirm.

“It was all your—”

Eun-Ho remembered the Dragon’s final words.

There’s something more, something I don’t know.

With a certainty that felt almost instinctive, Eun-Ho reviewed the system messages that had flooded in before he lost consciousness.

My stats went insane and then...

[You have seized the possession of the Undying.]

[You have acquired ownership of the Primordial Vault.]

[Please activate the entry pass!]

He had obtained a treasure vault that was created by that ancient being who had ruled for countless years.

I wonder what he hid in there.

Also, the long-running trial Revolution should have been completed.

[3] Completion of the Revolution

- Complete the revolution

- He who claims the throne shall grasp the world

“Hmm?”

It wasn’t finished?